Method and apparatus for atomizing an organic compound

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for atomizing or vaporizing chloroprofam or any other organic compound that is a solid at ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The method provides an air stream that can be nearly saturated with chloroprofam vapor and free of both combustion products and carrier solvents. In addition, the temperature of the air stream can be maintained at a temperature that is sufficiently low that it will not adversely affect tubers which are bathed in the air stream. The method includes introducing heated liquified chloroprofam under extreme pressure into a moving air mass within an atomization duct. An apparatus by which the method may be practiced includes a fluid delivery tube which transports liquified chloroprofam under pressure, first to a liquid-heating heat exchanger, and second to a discharge nozzle within a vaporization duct. As the liquid chloroprofam passes through the liquid-heating heat exchanger, it is heated just before it is expelled by the discharge nozzle into the vaporization duct. Pressurization of the chloroprofam within the delivery tube prevents it from boiling as it is heated and while it is en route to the discharge nozzle. The heated pressurized chloroprofam is introduced into an air stream flowing through the atomization duct that is propelled by a blower. Before reaching the nozzle, the air stream is heated by an air-heating heat exchanger. Atomization or vaporization may be assisted by spraying the heated chloroprofam onto a heated plate or onto an ultrasonic vibrator element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for atomizing an organic compound, said organic compound having a liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing the organic compound in its liquid phase;   (b) heating the pressurized liquid organic compound; and   (c) discharging the heated pressurized organic compound into a moving air mass.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid organic compound is pressurized within a range of about 2.76×10 6  N/m 2  to 1.38×10 7  N/m 2 . 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid organic compound is pressurized within a preferred range of about 3.45×10 6  N/m 2  to about 6.9×10 6  N/m 2 . 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid organic compound is heated to a temperature within a range of about 149° C. to 371° C. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid organic compound is heated to a temperature within a range of about 246° C. to 315° C. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving air mass is heated to a temperature within a range of about 150° C. to 315° C. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving air mass is heated to a temperature within a range of about 225° C. to 270° C. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, wherein the heated pressurized liquid organic compound is sprayed into the moving air mass via a nozzle. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, which further comprises the step of imparting additional thermal energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound by discharging it against a heated plate. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, which further comprises the step of imparting additional kinetic energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound by discharging it against an ultrasonic vibrator element. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic compound is chloroprofam. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, which further comprises the step of melting the organic compound to convert it from solid to liquid phase prior to pressurizing it. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, which further comprises the step of heating a solution of the organic compound and a carrier solvent to drive off the solvent and thereby obtain purified organic compound in its liquid phase. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for atomizing an organic compound having a liquid phase comprising: (a) an atomization duct through which a moving air mass is propelled;   (b) a vessel for holding a supply of the organic compound in its liquid phase;   (c) a heat exchanger for heating the liquid organic compound, said heat exchanger being fluidly coupled to said vessel;   (d) an orifice fluidly coupled to said heat exchanger, said orifice discharging the heated, pressurized liquid organic compound into the atomization duct;   (e) a pump for supplying the organic compound to said heat exchanger and to said orifice under pressure.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said pump also transports the liquid organic compound from the vessel to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said pump pressurizes the liquid organic compound within a range of about 2.76×10 6  N/m 2  to 1.38×10 7  N/m 2 . 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said pump pressurizes the liquid organic compound within a range of about 3.45×10 6  N/m 2  to about 6.9×10 6  N/m 2 . 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the liquid organic compound is heated as it passes through said heat exchanger to a temperature within a range of about 149° C. to 371° C. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the liquid organic compound is heated as it passes thorough said heat exchanger to a temperature within a range of about 246° C. to 315° C. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said orifice is incorporated in a nozzle which atomizes the pressurized, heated liquid organic compound as it is discharged. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the moving air mass is heated to a temperature within a range of about 150° C. to 315° C. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 14, wherein the moving air mass is heated to a temperature within a range of about 225° C. to 270° C. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a solution containing the organic compound and a volatile carrier solvent is purified within the vessel by driving off the carrier solvent thorough the application of heat prior to delivery of the organic compound to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the organic compound is also transformed from its solid phase to its liquid phase within said vessel through the application of heat. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises a heated plate against which the orifice discharges the pressurized, heated liquid organic compound, said plate imparting additional thermal energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound following its discharge into the atomization duct. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises an ultrasonic vibrator element, against which the orifice discharges the pressurize, heated liquid organic compound, said vibrator element imparting additional kinetic energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound following its discharge into the atomization duct. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said organic compound is chloroprofam. 
     
     
       28. A method for treating tubers with an organic compound which suppresses sprouting comprising the steps of: (a) pressurizing the organic compound in its liquid phase;   (b) heating the pressurized liquid organic compound;   (c) discharging the heated pressurized organic compound into a moving air mass in order to atomize the organic compound; and   (d) exposing the tubers to the moving air mass containing the atomized organic compound so that the atomized organic compound will coat an outer surface of each tuber so exposed.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28, wherein the liquid organic compound is pressurized within a range of about 2.76×10 6  N/m 2  to 1.38×10 7  N/m 2 . 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 28, wherein the liquid organic compound is heated to a temperature within a range of about 149° C. to 371° C. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 28, wherein the moving air mass is heated to a temperature within a range of about 150° C. to 315° C. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 28, wherein the heated pressurized liquid organic compound is sprayed into the moving air mass via a nozzle. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 28, which further comprises the step of imparting additional thermal energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound by discharging it against a heated plate. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 28, which further comprises the step of imparting additional kinetic energy to the heated pressurized liquid organic compound by discharging it against a ultrasonic vibrator element. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 28, wherein the organic compound is chloroprofam.